JP6971491B2 - Returnable container and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a returnable container and a method for producing the same.

In containers used in the market, so-called returnable containers that are expected to be used by consumers in the market, collected by manufacturers, washed, and then reused in the market, such as glass bottles for beverages. Exists.

As a method of imparting a design such as an image or characters to such a returnable container, a method such as attaching a label that can be easily peeled off or wrapping a shrink film (heat shrinkable film) is generally used. When the design is given by this label or shrink film, there is a demand to directly apply the design to the container due to problems such as durability and limitation of the range of expression of the design.

For example, a method of directly applying a design such as an arbitrary character, a figure or a pattern to the surface of a container with ink or paint, a method of applying an etching process on the surface to give a design, or an image formed with ink in the form of a transfer sheet is placed in the container. There is a method of transferring the design to the ink (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2012-166994 JP-A-2005-200089

However, when the design is applied to the surface of the container by the above method, neither method can be applied to the returnable container because the design applied to the surface of the container cannot be easily removed. In the market, the demand for highly designed returnable containers is increasing more and more from the viewpoint of resource reduction.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a highly designable returnable container and a method for manufacturing the same.

The gist of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A reusable container, the outer surface of the container 1, the printed convex regions formed in a convex shape raised by an inkjet printer using a first ink 2 can be dissolved and removed by a suitable Yichun solvent are provided, printed appropriate characters formed in a convex shape raised by an inkjet printer using the second ink 3 can be dissolved and removed by a suitable solvent to the convex area on, design or pattern set vignetting The convex region provided with the appropriate characters and the like is subjected to leveling treatment and cured, and the outer surface of the container 1 is provided with the explanatory characters 10, and the explanatory characters 10 are appropriately used. The present invention relates to a returnable container characterized in that it is printed and formed by an inkjet printing machine using a third ink that can be dissolved and removed with a different solvent, and is cured without being subjected to a leveling treatment.

Further, in the returnable container according to claim 1, the convex region formed by the first ink 2 and the appropriate characters, designs or patterns formed by the second ink 3 are both subjected to leveling treatment and cured. It relates to a returnable container characterized by being made of ink.

Further, in the returnable container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the first ink 2, the second ink 3, and the third ink are inks that are cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. It is related to returnable containers.

Further, in the returnable container according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first ink 2, the second ink 3 and the third ink is alkaline stripping ink that can be dissolved and removed by A alkali aqueous solution It relates to a returnable container characterized by the above.

Further, in the returnable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the explanatory character 10 is provided in a non-convex region on the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 in which the convex region is not provided. It relates to a returnable container characterized by.

Further, in the returnable container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , the first ink 2 is a returnable container characterized in that the ground color of the outer surface of the container 1 is a visible transparent ink. It is related.

Further, a method for manufacturing a reusable container, wherein a convex region is raised and printed on the outer surface of the container 1 by an inkjet printing machine using a first ink 2 that can be dissolved and removed with an appropriate solvent, as appropriate. a solvent by using a second ink 3 can be dissolved and removed applied to the convex area on the inkjet printer Yichun characters, the step of printing forms enliven design or pattern, the third ink that can be dissolved and removed by an appropriate solvent It includes the step of printing form described character 10 on the outer surface of the container 1 by an inkjet printer using further comprises a step of performing a leveling process to the convex area which is the raised printed form, the convex region step of applying the leveling process, Ri step der performed before curing the convex region, the step of printing the description text 10 is a printed above described character 10, without performing a leveling process The present invention relates to a method for producing a returnable container, which comprises a treatment for curing.

In the method of manufacturing returnable container according to claim 7 Symbol mounting includes the step raised print formed appropriate character, a leveling process to design or pattern applied to the convex area on this appropriate characters, designs or patterns The step of applying the leveling treatment to the container is related to a method of manufacturing a returnable container, which is a step performed before the appropriate characters, designs or patterns are cured.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 and 8, the first ink 2, the second ink 3, and the third ink are inks that are cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. It relates to a method for manufacturing a characteristic returnable container.

In the method of manufacturing returnable container according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first ink 2, the second ink 3 and the third ink is soluble removable alkaline stripping by A alkali aqueous solution It relates to a method for manufacturing a returnable container characterized by being ink.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 to 10, in the step of printing the explanatory character 10, the convex region on the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 is not printed with the explanatory character 10. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a returnable container, which comprises printing on a non-convex region.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 to 11 , the first ink 2 is a transparent ink in which the ground color of the outer surface of the container 1 is visible. It relates to a method for manufacturing a returnable container.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it exhibits a three-dimensional effect that makes printed characters stand out, has extremely high design, and can easily draw such highly designed characters. It is a returnable container and its manufacturing method that is efficient and can easily remove the characters and the like, so that it can be reused efficiently and has excellent effects.

It is a perspective view of this Example. It is sectional drawing of the main part of this Example. It is explanatory perspective view of the inkjet printer of this Example. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of an inkjet printer having a structure different from that of FIG. 3 of this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention which are considered to be suitable will be briefly described by showing the operation of the present invention based on the drawings.

Since the appropriate characters, designs or patterns are drawn on the outer surface of the container 1 by the second ink 3 on the appropriate characters, designs or patterns drawn by the first ink 2, the design is extremely high. The container 1 is expensive, and since the first ink 2 can be dissolved and removed with an appropriate solvent, both the first ink 2 and the second ink 3 can be easily removed, and thus the container 1 can be reused.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that reference numeral 2 indicates printing itself drawn with the first ink and the first ink, and similarly, reference numeral 3 indicates printing itself drawn with the second ink and the second ink.

This embodiment is a reusable container in which appropriate characters, designs or patterns are drawn on the outer surface of the container 1 by the first ink 2, and further, appropriately drawn by the first ink 2. Appropriate characters, patterns or patterns are drawn on top of various characters, figures or patterns by the second ink 3, and the first ink 2 is a returnable container that can be dissolved and removed by an appropriate solvent. ..

The container 1 of this embodiment is a glass container 1. In addition to glass, synthetic resin, metal, or the like can be appropriately selected as the material, but the glass container 1 is more preferable in consideration of ease of reuse such as durability.

The container 1 of the present embodiment has a general bottle shape, but may have any shape such as a cylindrical shape, an elliptical shape, a square shape, a wide mouth shape, and a narrow mouth shape.

The first ink 2 and the second ink 3 used in this embodiment are made of an ink having the same properties as the alkaline peeling type etching resist ink used when forming a circuit on a printed substrate, that is, an alkaline aqueous solution. An ink that is made by adjusting the peelable alkaline peeling ink to an appropriate color required for decorative applications is used.

The alkali peeling ink may be a heat-drying type ink that is heated, evaporated and dried to be cured, or an active light-curing type ink such as ultraviolet rays. An active light-curing ink that can freely control the curing of the ink is preferable. The active light rays are mainly electron beams, ultraviolet rays, α rays, γ rays, X-rays and the like, but ultraviolet rays are preferable because of ease of handling and the like.

In the case of active photocurable ink, the main component of the alkali peeling ink is generally a synthetic resin such as a rosin-modified maleic acid resin, a rosin-modified phenol resin, a styrene maleic acid resin, or an acrylic acid copolymer as an acrylic acid ester monomer. It is based on a dispersed rosin and generally contains a photopolymerization initiator, but is not limited to this.

Further, the color of the alkali peeling ink can be appropriately selected depending on the required image, such as mainly cyan, magenta, yellow, black, white, and clear (transparent).

Next, a method of performing a printing process on a predetermined container 1 using the above-mentioned alkaline peeling ink to manufacture a returnable container will be described.

On the outer surface of the container 1, the first ink 2 is used to draw a convex area for drawing an appropriate character, a design, or a pattern, in this case, an appropriate character, etc. (raised printing process). The first ink 2 is an ultraviolet curable ink, and is a transparent alkali peeling ink in which the ground color of the outer surface of the container 1 is visible.

Subsequently, the ink is subjected to a leveling treatment.

The leveling process is a process of intentionally generating and leveling the flow of ink by controlling the curing and drying of the surface (printed surface) such as characters applied to the surface of the object to be printed (here, container 1) by ink. Point to. There are appropriate methods for controlling the curing and drying of the ink in the leveling process, but a general method controls the time from when the ink is applied to the surface of the printed matter until the ink is cured and dried, and the ink is ink. It is a method of controlling the occurrence status of the flow of ink. In the case of UV curable ink, the time from when the ink is applied to the printed matter until the UV irradiation is performed is determined by the fluidity (viscosity) of the ink, the surface tension of the ink, the surface tension of the surface of the printed matter, and the like. Control in consideration of conditions. Here, the viscosity of the ink is 5 to 30 mPa. s, Ink with an ink surface tension of about 20 to 40 mN / m @ 25 ° C is used.

Subsequently, after performing this leveling treatment, the convex region is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. The UV irradiation timing, integrated light intensity, wavelength, etc. are appropriately adjusted according to the curing performance of the ink. Here, the ultraviolet irradiation is controlled so as to be 1 second or more and 30 seconds or less after the ink is applied to the container 1, the integrated light amount of the irradiated ultraviolet rays is 40 to 10000 mJ / cm2, and the wavelength region is about 365 to 395 nm. I'm in control.

Subsequently, using the second ink 3 similar to the first ink 2, characters of an appropriate color and the like are drawn in a convex shape on the convex region after curing, and appropriate coloring is performed with the same ink. The printing is completed by applying, leveling treatment and curing in the same manner as described above. The second ink 3 does not have to be the same alkali peeling ink as the first ink 2. If the first ink 2 is an alkali peeling ink, the second ink 3 is also the second ink when the first ink 2 is melted and removed. It will be removed together with 1 ink 2.

Any method can be selected as the printing method, but in this embodiment, an inkjet method suitable for arbitrarily forming a high-quality image is used.

As the inkjet printing method, even if the single-pass method is a single-pass method in which printing is completed only once the printed matter passes through the nozzle surface side of the inkjet head 4, the inkjet head 4 and the printed matter are relatively moved and scanned multiple times. However, a multi-pass method may be used in which ink is ejected to complete printing.

3 and 4 are configuration examples of an inkjet printing machine (inkjet printer), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 is a configuration example of an inkjet printer suitable for decorating a printed matter 9 having a flat surface, in which an inkjet head 4 and an active light irradiation device 5 are mounted on a carriage 6 and a lower portion of the carriage 6 is mounted. A table 7 for mounting the printed matter 9 (9a is a printed surface) is provided on the table.

In the configuration example of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that printing is mainly performed on a flat portion constituting the printed matter 9, but the printed matter having an uneven pattern or a slightly curved surface on the printed matter surface, etc. It is possible to print on various printed matter.

The specific printing in this embodiment is as follows.

The carriage 6 is horizontally moved above the container 1 supported and fixed on the table 7, and the transparent alkaline peeling ink (first ink 2) is discharged from the inkjet head 4 mounted on the carriage 6 to remove the alkali on the surface of the container 1. An area where ink is applied to draw appropriate characters and the like is drawn in a convex shape (heap printing), followed by appropriate leveling processing (leveling step), and then ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the active light irradiation device 5 to this. The alkali peeling ink is cured (ink curing step), and then the same alkali peeling ink (second ink 3) is applied onto the cured convex alkali peeling ink (first ink 2) as appropriate. In addition to drawing characters of various colors in a convex shape (heap printing), appropriate coloring is applied with the same alkaline peeling ink, and printing is completed through a leveling process (leveling process) and an ink curing process in the same manner.

FIG. 4 is a configuration example of an inkjet printer suitable for printing on a printed matter 9 such as a bottle having a circular, oval, or square cross section, and is an inkjet head 4 and an active light irradiation device 5. However, the mandrel 8 is mounted on the carriage 6 and has a rotation mechanism for mounting (fitting) the printed matter 9 on the lower portion of the carriage 6. This is a configuration example in which ink is ejected from the inkjet head 4 while the mandrel 8 is rotated to print on the printed matter 9 (9a is the printed surface).

The printed matter 9 that can be printed according to the configuration example of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 4 can print not only a circular or elliptical cross section but also a printed matter having a complicated cross section having irregularities.

The specific printing in this embodiment is as follows.

The carriage 6 is horizontally moved above the container 1 supported and fixed to the mandrel 8, and the transparent alkaline peeling ink (first ink 2) is ejected from the inkjet head 4 mounted on the carriage 6 while rotating the container 1. Alkaline peeling ink is applied to the surface of the container 1 to draw a convex area on which appropriate characters and the like are drawn (raised printing), followed by a leveling process (leveling step), and then an active light irradiation device 5 The alkali peeling ink is cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays from the ink (ink curing step), and then the same alkali peeling ink (second ink) is placed on the cured convex alkali peeling ink (first ink 2). 3) is added and characters of appropriate colors are drawn in a convex shape (heap printing), and appropriate coloring is applied with the same alkaline peeling ink, and the leveling process (leveling process) and ink curing process are performed in the same manner. After that, printing is completed.

As described above, a returnable container that realizes direct printing with high design and peelability by forming an arbitrary image on the surface of the container using alkaline peeling ink by printing processing on a predetermined container. Can be provided.

In particular, in this embodiment, since both the first ink 2 and the second ink 3 are printed in a raised manner, characters and the like stand out on the container 1 to give a three-dimensional effect, and the container is a returnable container with extremely high design.

The printed surface of the printed matter usually has fine irregularities. In that case, the fine unevenness disappears by the leveling treatment. In the case of this embodiment, by printing the convex region on the printed surface of the glass container with the transparent first ink 2, the fine unevenness disappears and the surface becomes a clean flat surface (container). Since appropriate characters and the like are printed in a convex shape on top of each other in the convex region (where the ground color of 1 can be visually recognized), these characters and the like are clearly drawn. Is an extremely high returnable container.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, the so-called main characters and figures (in FIG. 1, the “A” character and the “flower figure” drawn with the second ink 3) are the first as described above in order to enhance the design. Overprinting is performed on the ink 2, and the ink is made to flow by leveling processing in each printing to give roundness to the edges of characters and figures, which also enhances the design. In the case of the explanatory characters 10 drawn on the container 1 of the above, the demand for design is not high, and if the edges of the characters are not clear, the characters will be difficult to read. Immediately cure without leveling.

A peeling method for actually peeling the image formed by the alkaline peeling ink on the surface of the returnable container according to the present embodiment manufactured by the above steps for reuse will be described.

As the alkaline aqueous solution used for peeling, one containing NaOH, KOH, 2-aminoethanol, NaOH3, K2CO3 and the like is used.

In this example, an alkaline aqueous solution containing about 2 to 7% (% by volume) of NaOH is used.

By immersing the returnable container in the alkaline aqueous solution for a predetermined time, the alkaline stripping ink is completely dissolved and removed from the container 1. The immersion time depends on the amount of ink applied to the container 1, but it can be completely dissolved and removed in about 5 to 30 minutes. The peeling time can be shortened by using an alkaline aqueous solution obtained by heating the alkaline aqueous solution at about 45 ° C to 60 ° C.

Generally, in the case of an alcohol bottle, a main label attached to the front of the bottle and an explanatory label attached to the back of the bottle with explanations such as the manufacturer and alcohol content are used. According to the example, by the overprinting and leveling processing, the design of the main characters on the front surface of the bottle can be enhanced, and the explanatory characters 10 on the back surface of the bottle can be made extremely easy to read. Since these characters and the like can be printed extremely easily and these prints can be easily removed, it is possible to provide a highly practical returnable container.

1 Container 2 1st ink 3 2nd ink 4 Inkjet head 5 Active light irradiation device 6 Carriage 7 Table 8 Mandrel 9 Printed matter 9a Printed matter
10 descriptive characters

Claims (12)

A container reusable, on the outer surface of the container, the protruding region by using the first ink capable of dissolving removed by a suitable Yichun solvent formed in the printed convex raised by the ink jet printer is provided It is, printed appropriate characters formed in a convex shape raised by an inkjet printer using a second ink which can be dissolved and removed by a suitable solvent to the convex area on, design or pattern set vignetting, the appropriate The convex region provided with various characters and the like is subjected to leveling treatment and hardened, and an explanatory character is provided on the outer surface of the container, and the explanatory character can be dissolved and removed with an appropriate solvent. A returnable container characterized by being printed and formed by an inkjet printing machine using a third ink and cured without being subjected to leveling treatment. In the returnable container according to claim 1, the convex region formed by the first ink and the appropriate characters, designs or patterns formed by the second ink are both cured by being subjected to leveling treatment. A returnable container characterized by being present. The returnable container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first ink, the second ink, and the third ink are inks that are cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. In returnable container according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first ink, the second ink and the third ink, and characterized in that the alkaline stripping ink that can be dissolved and removed by A alkali aqueous solution Returnable container. The returnable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the explanatory characters are provided in a non-convex region on the outer peripheral surface of the container in which the convex region is not provided. Returnable container. The returnable container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the first ink is a transparent ink in which the ground color of the outer surface of the container is visible. A method for manufacturing a reusable container, which is a step of raising a convex region on the outer surface of a container by an inkjet printing machine using a first ink that can be dissolved and removed with an appropriate solvent to form a print, and dissolving with an appropriate solvent. step of printing forms raised the proper Yichun character, design or pattern in the protruding region on the ink jet printer using a second ink removable inkjet printing using the third ink that can be dissolved and removed by an appropriate solvent machine by comprising the step of printing form described character on the outer surface of said container further comprises a step of performing a leveling process to the convex area which is the raised printing form, the step of performing a leveling process to the convex area , Ri step der performed before curing the convex region, the step of printing the description characters, the printed above described character, and characterized in that it comprises a process of curing without performing leveling process How to make a returnable container. The method of manufacturing a returnable container according to claim 7 Symbol mounting, the convex area on the raised printed formed appropriate characters includes the step of applying the leveling process to the design or pattern, the appropriate characters, leveling the design or pattern A method for manufacturing a returnable container, characterized in that the step of applying the treatment is a step performed before the appropriate characters, designs or patterns are cured. The method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the first ink, the second ink, and the third ink are returnable inks that are cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. How to make a container. It In the method for manufacturing returnable container according to claim 7-9 any one, the first ink, the second ink and the third ink is an alkali peeling ink can be dissolved and removed by A alkali aqueous solution A method of manufacturing a returnable container characterized by. In the method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 to 10, in the step of printing the explanatory characters, the explanatory characters are printed on a non-convex region on the outer peripheral surface of the container in which the convex region is not printed. A method of manufacturing a returnable container characterized by printing. In the method for manufacturing a returnable container according to any one of claims 7 to 11 , the first ink is a transparent ink in which the ground color of the outer surface of the container is visible. Method.

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